1 . Thomas Taylor’s original watercolor illustration for the first edition of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” published by Bloomsbury in 1997 is scheduled to be auctioned (拍卖) for June 26 in New York. The artwork is expected to bring in between $400,000 to $600,000, setting a record for any Harry Potter-related material ever offered at auction.
Illustrator Thomas Taylor was a 23-year-old recent art school graduate when he was hired by Bloomsbury to make a cover illustration for a fantasy children’s book by then-unknown author J.K. Rowling. It was Taylor’s first professional task, and he recalled being directed by Bloomsbury’s editor to depict the scene — Harry approaching the Hogwarts Express at King’s Cross Station. Despite having limited freedom for artistic expression, Taylor faithfully followed the instructions.
Taylor had the unique opportunity to read Rowling’s early manuscript (手稿) on a train, making him one of the very first individuals to do so. The manuscript, only printed on one side, was missing Chapter 11, as the author was still making changes. Despite its incomplete state, Taylor found it to be a fascinating glimpse into the world of Harry Potter. Taylor revealed that he used the blank underside of each manuscript page for sketching. “And then I think I put the rest of it in the recycling bin,” he said. “Of course now I really regret that.”
But Taylor said at the beginning he had mixed feelings about this early, giant success. “Normally when you start out as an illustrator, you kind of hope that your first work will be a bit forgotten and then you’ll develop and get better and better,” Taylor told The Rowling Library. However, he said he’s finally made peace with it — in part because of how prized his Harry Potter book cover painting has become at auction.
1. What does the underlined word “depict” in paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Discover. | B．Illustrate. | C．Set. | D．Imagine. |
| A．He found the manuscript absorbing. |
| B．He was famous when given the task. |
| C．He used the book pages for sketching. |
| D．He had complete freedom of creation. |
| A．Joyful but uncertain. | B．Cheerful and excited. |
| C．Anxious but grateful. | D．Satisfied and confident. |
| A．Thomas Taylor’s Magic Illustrations |
| B．An Auction of Harry Potter Illustrations |
| C．The Fascinating Manuscript of Harry Potter |
| D．Thomas Taylor: Harry Potter’s First Illustrator |
2 . My mother, 85, once a legendary talker, stopped talking months ago. To
As a Chicago native, she was once a devoted Dodgers
Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised that game awakened her that afternoon. I turned off the TV and asked if I could get her anything more. “More
Still, spending that last magical game with her was a
| A．witness | B．fill | C．celebrate | D．lengthen |
| A．vacant | B．curious | C．expectant | D．hopeful |
| A．apologize | B．complain | C．highlight | D．cheer |
| A．hero | B．fan | C．coach | D．player |
| A．simply | B．truly | C．fully | D．naturally |
| A．miss | B．win | C．afford | D．control |
| A．broke off | B．set aside | C．took back | D．gave away |
| A．disappointment | B．satisfaction | C．delight | D．relief |
| A．question | B．point | C．excuse | D．result |
| A．pretended | B．feared | C．tended | D．declined |
| A．company | B．trouble | C．explanation | D．rest |
| A．service | B．TV | C．game | D．team |
| A．professional | B．independent | C．cautious | D．faithful |
| A．warned | B．kissed | C．grasped | D．disturbed |
| A．dream | B．choice | C．gift | D．lesson |
3 . Ten years ago, Britain’s first stretch of all-lane running (ALR)“smart” motorway was introduced, with more to follow. As a way to ease congestion (堵塞) without spending money on widening roads, ALR motorways function without a hard shoulder for drivers in difficulty. As they were rolled out, motorists were assured that the emergency lane would not be missed, as new technologies would be able to respond to breakdowns, and control traffic flow.
The public was understandably doubtful about how smart this idea was, and it turned out the public was right. Smart motorways without a hard shoulder have been found to be three times more dangerous than ones where drivers have that option. Behind the data lie terrible incidents, in which stationary (不动的) vehicles have been ploughed into from behind with serious consequences. Rightly, Rishi Sunak last year stopped plans for more ALR motorways, citing a lack of public confidence. But he should go further. The RAC this week called for a hard shoulder to be restored on all smart motorways. That advice should be listened to in Whitehall and acted upon. A 2021 House of Commons transport committee report made shockingly clear that before rolling the “no emergency lane” policy out, ministers driven by the desire to save money failed to do due diligence on the safety risks attached.
Since then, plans to retrofit (翻新) refuge areas along motorway routes have proceeded at a snail’s pace. Of the 150 emergency areas due to be in place by next year, only a tiny proportion have been delivered. Even when all are up and running, the risk of a catastrophic breakdown in onrushing traffic will remain.
At a minimum, the government should move to a system of “dynamic” motorways, where emergency lanes are only opened to traffic at particularly busy periods. But the preferable solution would be to restore a permanent hard shoulder. This could be done while keeping the benefits of investment in technical innovations that allow traffic to be better monitored and flexibly regulated. Mr Sunak did the right thing in bringing a foolish experiment to an end. The next task is to correct the damage already done.
1. Why were ALR motorways introduced?| A．To reduce serious traffic accidents. | B．To relieve traffic jam at low costs. |
| C．To save money on road maintenance. | D．To improve motorists’driving skills. |
| A．Roads with a hard shoulder posed little threat. |
| B．Smart motorways failed to win public favor. |
| C．Ministers were driven by the greed for money. |
| D．Rishi Sunak was forced to stop smart motorways. |
| A．Build more emergency areas. | B．Invest in technical advances. |
| C．Calculate the potential damage. | D．Keep a hard shoulder in place. |
| A．Smart Motorways Are Not Clever Without a Hard Shoulder |
| B．Smart Motorways Witnessed Catastrophic Breakdowns |
| C．Smart Motorways Benefit From Technological Innovation |
| D．Smart Motorways Raised the Doubts of the General Public |
4 . Even though it’s never been easier to see the latest movies at home, there’s still nothing quite like watching a film in the dark of the cinema on the biggest screen possible.
Avoid high-priced tickets
The most expensive tickets are going to be on peak times, which will usually run from Friday night until Sunday evening. But if you have the flexibility to go midweek or in the daytime you’ll hopefully find lower prices.
Consider a membership
Some cinema memberships also offer free tickets and then discounts on future visits, so they’re worth looking at if you know you’ll make the money back. But if you are going at least twice a month then the all-you-can-watch memberships can be fantastic value. However, one disadvantage is that if you want to see a film at a different chain you’ll be paying again.
Use discounted gift cards
Finally, armed with your cheap cinema tickets, don’t ruin all your good work by buying the popcorn at the cinema. The price is always high. But it can be easily avoided by hitting a supermarket beforehand to buy much cheaper treats. You don’t need to secretly take them in because all the big cinemas allow you to do this.
| A．Bring your own snacks. |
| B．Treat yourself with the popcorn. |
| C．Ticket cost shouldn’t be a problem. |
| D．There are deals running that offer cut-price tickets. |
| E．Do check the normal selling price for your local cinema. |
| F．You can also save by buying cinema gift cards when they’re on sale. |
| G．There might also be certain days at some cinemas where all tickets are reduced further. |
5 . Lichens (地衣) cover as much as 8% of the planet’s surface, an area larger than that covered by tropical rain-forests. They can be found growing on bark, rocks or walls; in woodlands, deserts or tundra.
Some lichens are familiar to the herbalists who find uses through the “Doctrine of Signatures” (形象学说). For example, species of Lobaria are used to treat lung diseases because of their lung-like appearance. Lichens have also been used for their chemical components. Lichens provide natural dye (染色) stuff in many traditional cultures around the world, including the famous Harris tweed woolens of Scotland. Lichens are also used in the production of perfumes. For example, “oak moss” was used as a component of several high quality French perfumes in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Lichens also provide many important ecosystem services. Lichens contribute to biodiversity — they are found in all biomes. Some lichens are pioneers, so they are often the first to occupy newly exposed surfaces. Lichens also contribute to nutrient cycling. In some old-growth forests, lichens contribute up to 50% of the nitrogen. Many animals use lichens. Up to 90% of reindeer’s winter food consists of lichens, and other animals use lichens for nesting material or hiding places. Lichens can also inform us about the condition of our environment. Many lichens require very specific environmental conditions. For example, presence of certain lichens can be an indicator of climate change. Some lichens are sensitive to air pollution and will disappear when air quality is poor.
Lichens are important also because they are beautiful to look at. How colorful would the rocks and cliffs be in the Rocky Mountains without the reds, yellows and greens of the crust lichens? Without these living creatures, our natural areas would look pretty boring and a little more lifeless.
1. How does the author introduce lichens in paragraph 1?| A．By explaining the standard definition. | B．By describing the growing process. |
| C．By stating the wide range of coverage. | D．By showing the diverse species. |
| A．To treat lung disorders. | B．To dye natural stuff. |
| C．To make perfumes. | D．To remove chemicals. |
| A．They are sensitive to air quality. |
| B．They can survive in extreme weather. |
| C．They provide nesting material for birds. |
| D．They indicate old-growth conditions. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
6 . These new acquisitions include works by some of the youngest living artists ever collected by the British Museum, presented alongside works by famous artists from Mary Delany and Edouard Manet, to Barbara Hepworth, Andy Warhol and Yinka Shonibare. The show will be touring venues around the UK from the October 2023 to July2024.
In this surprising and thought-provoking selection, emerging artists take the medium of drawing in new directions and use innovative approaches. A wide range of techniques and practices are represented, including drawings using make-up on face wipes by Sin Wai Kin and a drawing made with chalk collected from the White Cliffs of Dover by Josephine Baker.
Artists show how drawing, often considered a quiet or private medium, can be used to challenge social norms (规范), explore identity and protest injustice. Catherine Anyango Grünewald has described the time and labour invested in her monumental drawings as a “direct admiration” for their subjects, often the victims of institutional crimes. The painstaking de tail of Irish artist Miriam de Búrca’s drawings of earth forces us to confront an uncomfortable history.
This tour has evolved from an exhibition at the British Museum, and each gallery will offer their unique take on the works.
Supported by the Dorset Foundation in memory of Harry M Weinrebe.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．The tour has a duration of one year and a half. |
| B．Visitors can enjoy the tour only in the British Museum. |
| C．Some works on exhibition were created by young artists. |
| D．Famous artists can teach visitors painting skills in person. |
| A．They employ innovative methods. | B．They represent famous artists. |
| C．They collect surprising drawings. | D．They prefer a new but risky direction. |
| A．Mary Delany. | B．Harry M Weinrebe. |
| C．Barbara Hepworth. | D．Catherine Anyango Grünewald. |
7 . Researchers from the GIGA — Center of Research Cyclotron at the University of Liège have discovered that the sleeping body reacts to the external world while sleeping, which explains how some sensory input might influence sleep quality.
Researchers from ULi ège worked with the University of Fribourg in Switzerland to study if the body genuinely disconnects from the outside world while sleeping. They focused on how the heartbeat changes when we hear different words while sleeping. They discovered that calming words reduced cardiac (心脏的) activity as a reflection of deeper sleep, in contrast to neutral phrases, which did not have the same effect. This result, reported in the Journal of Sleep Research, throws fresh light on brain-heart interactions during sleep.
A previous study analyzing brain data showed that relaxing words increased deep sleep duration and sleep quality, showing that we can positively influence sleep using meaningful words. By that time, the authors reasoned that the brain might still process sensory input in a way that made our bodies feel more relaxed after hearing soothing phrases while sleeping.
In this new study, the authors were able to measure cardiac activity to test this idea and discovered that the heart slows down only after the display of calming phrases. Markers of cardiac and brain activity were then compared to understand how much they contributed to the modulation (演变) of sleep by auditory information. Cardiac activity has been indeed proposed to contribute to the way we perceive the world directly, but such evidence has so far been obtained in wakefulness. With these results, the ULi ège researchers showed that it was also true in sleep, offering a new perspective on the essential role of bodily reactions beyond brain data for our understanding of sleep.
“Most of sleep research focuses on the brain and rarely investigates bodily activity,” says Dr. Schmidt. This study takes a more complete approach to the modulation of sleep functions by sensory information. By investigating cardiac reactions to noises, we may be able to research in the future the involvement of the body in the way sounds influence emotional processing of memories while sleeping.
1. What can we learn about the sleeping body from the first two paragraphs?| A．It disconnects from the outside world. | B．It reacts positively to calming words. |
| C．It makes no response to neutral words. | D．It suffers the changes of the heartbeat. |
| A．Unpleasant noise. | B．The modulation of sleep. |
| C．Cardiac activity. | D．The function of the brain. |
| A．To understand the world directly. |
| B．To obtain information in wakefulness. |
| C．To study the impact of sensory input on sleep. |
| D．To test the accuracy of auditory information. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Indifferent. | C．Doubtful. | D．Approving. |
1. When was Benjamin Franklin appointed as head of the postal service in America?
| A．In 1715. | B．In 1575. | C．In 1775. |
| A．The problems the USPS meets. |
| B．How to make a lot of money. |
| C．The method to arrange the retired people. |
| A．USPS is newly formed in America. |
| B．Only by making major change can the problem be solved. |
| C．USPS can pay any payment of health care for future retirees. |
1. What does the woman want to find out?
| A．What’s on. | B．What’s wrong. | C．Recent news. |
| A．For 135 minutes. | B．For 150 minutes. | C．For 165 minutes. |
| A．She is poor. |
| B．She might be a stranger here. |
| C．She doesn’t have any children under seven. |
| A．The man is an actor in the musical. |
| B．Some tickets may be sold at half price. |
| C．The children under seven aren’t allowed to enter the theater. |
Jennifer worked with her mother in their vegetable garden every day. The produce from their garden was sold at the farmer's market. This is how they made their living. Jennifer often pretended the plants she tended were beautiful tulips, like Mrs. Talia’s prize flowers. “Foolish girl!” her mother scolded. “Flowers can't be eaten! Tend to the vegetables. That's our living.”
Jennifer knew her mother was right. The only person in the village who made money selling flowers was Mrs. Talia. She grew tulips and sold them to local flower shops. Every year she won first prize at the Tulip Festival. Other contestants whispered that Mrs. Talia used magic to grow her tulips. How else could she win first prize twenty years in a row?
Jennifer envied Mrs. Talia. If she could sell flowers like Mrs. Talia, she would be able to buy things for her mother. But tulips were expensive to start, and Jennifer could only dream about growing them.
One day, Jennifer visited Mrs. Talia to see her flowers. Mrs. Talia was inspecting her tulips when she arrived. The garden of flowers springing up thrilled Jennifer. Mrs. Talia shattered her daydream. “Spying on me again!”Mrs. Talia frowned. Jennifer took a deep breath and explained she came only to see her flowers, hoping to grow such beautiful tulips and win a prize at the festival like her.
“You! Win a prize growing flowers?”Mrs. Talia chuckled and told Jennifer the secret to growing prize tulips had been passed down to her from past generations of her family. Mrs. Talia patted her shoulder and said sticking to vegetables was a better choice for her. Mrs. Talia returned to her gardening, ignoring the sad look on Jennifer’s face. Then she pulled up what looked like a weed. “What's that?” Jennifer asked. Mrs. Talia said it was only a shabby plant and then threw it over the fence into the field beside the garden.
Jennifer smiled and had an idea. She bowed farewell to Mrs. Talia and went out of the garden gate. Jennifer looked down at the discarded plant on the village path and glanced back. Mrs. Talia was busy minding her prize tulips. Jennifer quickly bent over and picked up the plant before rushing home.
注意：1. 续写词数应为 150 左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Jennifer wondered what she should do with her plant.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Jennifer got up on festival morning.
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